Learning to master the art of possibility’

Thursday

May 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 24, 2007 at 10:56 AM

In essence it is the belief that by providing others with the freedom to succeed, endless possibilities emerge. This contradicts our normal standards of measurement, which are fiercely competitive, and encourage us to search constantly, for ways to measure our success against that of others. The result is that once you have given another person a grade, you act in accordance with that grade.

Ben Johnson/Special to the Minuteman

The idea of judging each other based on our own standards is so commonplace that few give it a second thought. Yet when it is questioned, we realize that the process of assigning value to other people corrupts and degrades our interpersonal relationships. This was the topic of Rep. Jay Kaufman’s (D-Lexington) most recent Open House public policy forum at the historic Depot in Lexington Center. The discussion featured Boston Philharmonic Conductor Benjamin Zander and his partner, psychotherapist Rosamund Zander, who co-authored the national bestseller “The Art of Possibility.”The book challenges the way that we grade, rank and evaluate one another. In a chapter called “Giving an A,” the two authors argue that thinking in terms of the traditional “A through F” grading system first poisons our relationships in school, and then goes further to permeate the ways that we interact with and evaluate one another in the workplace, our families, and our communities. Through the process of giving others an “A” and then challenging them to live up to the “A” according to their own devices, relationships can be transported from “the world of measurement” into the “universe of possibility.” As Rosamund Zander eloquently described, “‘giving an A’ is a possibility to live into, not a standard to live up to.” In essence it is the belief that by providing others with the freedom to succeed, endless possibilities emerge. This contradicts our normal standards of measurement, which are fiercely competitive, and encourage us to search constantly, for ways to measure our success against that of others. The result is that once you have given another person a grade, you act in accordance with that grade. For example, if you see individuals as “C students,” you begin to expect only mediocre work from them. You may see them as “slackers,” or unlikely to succeed. The student then reacts to this stance in a negative manner, leading to an internecine cycle influenced by the prejudices of preconceived judgment. By contrast, by giving a student an “A,” a teacher changes his or her thinking, and the student is automatically placed in higher regard. After all, doesn’t every teacher love being in the presence of “A” students? Once everyone has become an “A” student in the teacher’s mind, there is more interaction, and the teacher becomes more invested in the student’s learning. The process releases students from the restraints and measurements imposed by the traditional grading system, allowing them to take the risks needed to really learn something new. The symbiotic relationship between teacher and student can also be applied to other aspects of our lives. We can “give an A” in business, politics, our families and our communities. While optimism plays an important role in the Zanders’ theories, it is not the lone factor. Far more important is to refrain from judging others based on our own perception of success, and thus encouraging people to rise to their full capabilities. This is particularly challenging in politics, where leaders spend so much time evaluating and judging others that they fail to realize what a positive impact reaching out and expressing approval would have. It would lead both parties to loosen their stances, and ultimately improve personal relationships and overall effectiveness. Some of history’s greatest leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, have reached out to their adversaries to solve problems collectively, choosing not to judge them, but to find ways to give them an A. Rather than acting aversely, they both adopted peaceful tactics that supported conciliation rather than retaliation. These figures accepted others, and shaped their views of others in a positive manner, ultimately leading to their effectiveness as leaders. The energy emitted by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander at Open House certainly encouraged the audience, and provided real-life examples of the ways that “Giving an A,” in its best form, can encourage excellence, resolve conflict, allow for the transfer of knowledge, and strengthen bonds in all aspects of our lives.Ben Johnson is a junior at Lexington High School who is currently an intern in the office of Rep. Jay R. Kaufman.